After the coup in Syria, it is not automatically possible to leave Austria. Many Syrians are still very worried about ‘coming home’. The “Krone” spoke with two Syrians.
While former dictator Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia, where he was granted asylum on humanitarian grounds, Austria no longer wants to grant his fellow countrymen this right for the time being. Meanwhile, for many of the 95,180 Syrians living in Austria, the question now arises: stay or go?
A quick return home was fraught with problems
Ziad Rabeh wants to leave the decision open for the time being at least. “I have been in Austria for eight years and fought hard to get where I am today,” explains Rabeh, who currently works as a front office manager at a hotel in Vienna.
Transformation can succeed
A quick return to Syria is “difficult at the moment”, especially because his son has learned German and cannot read or write Arabic. “This is one of the biggest challenges I worry about when it comes to returning to Syria,” he reveals, adding: “Yet anything is possible. I let the future decide.”
Either way, he has faith in his old homeland. “The last 54 years and especially the last thirteen years have shown us how it cannot be done, and I am confident that we can achieve the transformation into a democratic state,” he added.
Hussein Alhussein sees it the same way. He fled to Austria via the infamous Balkan route in July 2014. He does not want to return to Syria for the time being. “Where should I go there? My house in my hometown of Aleppo is no longer there. I’ve been here for 10 years now. Austria has become my new home,” says the 33-year-old, who has now set up his own business as a hairdresser in Vienna-Leopoldstadt.
Alhussein also started a family. At some point he wants to show his three-year-old son his native country. But only when it is safe again. That will probably take years.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
